Ebisubashi (Ebisu bridge) in Osaka, Japan. View towards Shinsaibashi and North Osaka. The large buildings on the horizon are the Buddhist temples Kita Mido and Minami Mido.
The photographer stood at the current location of the Kanidoraku crab restaurant.
The bridge was apparently named Ebisubashi because of its location on the road to Imamiya Ebisu Jinja, a very popular shrine for business people in Osaka.
Ebisu happened to be a derogatory term for foreigner in the mid 19th century. The country having just opened its doors to foreigners, the bridge’s name was changed to Eiseibashi in 1867 (Keio 3). This Political Correctness avant la lettre didn’t last long. Only three years later the original name was restored.1
Walking straight down the street across from the bridge you will eventually reach Shinsaibashi.
For another view of Ebisubashi, taken from a location on the left side of this photograph, see Dotonbori Canal.
Notes
1 Nagasaki University Library, Database of Old Photographs of Japan. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
Published
Updated
Reference for Citations
Duits, Kjeld (). Osaka 1890s: Ebisubashi Bridge, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on June 26, 2022 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/42/osaka-1890s-ebisubashi-bridge
I have a small favor to ask
Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage to increase our understanding of Japanese culture and society.
Finding, acquiring, scanning, restoring, researching and conserving these vintage images, and making the imagery and research freely available online, takes serious time, money and effort.
I do this without charging for access, selling user data, or running ads.
Your support helps to make this possible, and ensures that this important visual heritage of Japan will not be lost and forgotten.
If you can, please consider supporting Old Photos of Japan with a regular amount each month. Or become a volunteer.
Thank you,
Kjeld Duits
There are currently no comments on this article.